Postgraduate Taught

Keele has a long established reputation in Initial Teacher Education and in recent inspections has been rated as an excellent provider.

These one year (36 weeks) full time courses are aimed at enabling programme participants to develop their subject knowledge so that they can then move on to a programme of Initial Teacher Education (such as PGCE).  Programme participants are graduates but will have insufficient subject knowledge from their degree and/or other studies to become specialist teachers in a specific curriculum area and the Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) courses address this.   Successful completion of the course leads to a University award of a Certificate in Higher Education (FHEQ Level 4).

Course participants undertake study within the University and a period of time is spent within a school setting.  Each of the programme is delivered by a team of tutors at Keele from Teacher Education as well as from academic subject specialists across the University.  Within the University there are dedicated teaching facilities and the courses make use of the opportunities provided through working in partnership with schools.

• Broaden and deepen subject knowledge within the chosen curriculum area so that successful participants will have the requisite knowledge, skills and understanding to engage effectively with the requirements of an Initial Teacher Education programme.
• Develop an understanding of the nature of their subject within the school curriculum.
• Begin to be develop course participants as beginning teachers who are highly motivated, creative, reflective and reflexive.
• Encourage a critical and innovative approach to subject knowledge within their chosen curriculum area.
• Begin to develop subject practitioners who draw on research and scholarship to inform their practice as beginning professionals.
• Begin to develop students’ understanding of issues relating to teaching and learning in their specific subject specialism.

Participants should also:

• Have developed criteria for evaluating their own performance
• Be able to learn from this evaluation.
• have developed an initial awareness and understanding the sort of teacher they want to be.

It is a requirement that, to be accepted onto the Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course, an applicant must have been offered a place on a course of Initial Teacher Education and Training. This may be:

• On the PGCE at Keele University or another institution;
• On a School Direct/Salaried programme at Keele University or another institution;
• A PGCE or QTS only route with a School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme at another institution;
• or another programme of initial teacher education leading to a recommendation of Qualified Teacher Status.

In considering an applicant for the Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course, Keele University will use its PGCE selection criteria as part of the process. This will enable us to make a conditional offer of a place on the PGCE at Keele University. The Subject Knowledge Enhancement Courses are designed to meet individual needs and we therefore consider a range of profiles as detailed below under specific courses.

English Language Requirements

International students whose first language is not English must have IELTS 7.0  or  equivalent  with a minimum of 6.5 in each sub-test or equivalent.

Students undertake a series of subject modules that are specific to their chosen course (Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics).  Those undertaking Chemistry or Physics will, during the first term of their course, study modules that address key concepts in the main science disciplines outside their chosen specialist area.  All course participants undertake a professional practice module which introduces them to the principles of teaching learning and assessment, along with a period of time spent on placement in more than one school.  This prepares them for their subsequent Initial Teacher Education course. This provides the opportunity for participants to consider the nature of their subject in terms of the demands of the school curriculum. It also provides participants with the opportunity to commence the development of the necessary skills to be a successful classroom practitioner.

Course participants are assessed through written assignments, presentations, examinations and a range of files/portfolios that are put together during the course.

Each academic module is formally assessed through formative and summative activities.  A range of assessment modes are used, including: 

• Essays;
• Portfolios;
• Examinations;
• In-class tests;
• Reports on practice;
• Journals.

These full-time courses are designed to develop subject knowledge in your chosen Science specialism (Chemistry or Physics) to enable you to broaden and deepen your academic knowledge so that you can progress to an Initial Teacher Education Programme (PGCE /QTS with a University or SCITT, or a School Direct place with a School and a University/SCITT).  The courses also provide input on the other main sciences within the curriculum as well as giving the opportunity for you to develop and review your subject knowledge within an educational context (school placement). 

The training programme is innovative and is delivered as partnership between Science Education Tutors, academic chemists and physicists in the University and experienced practitioners in partnership schools.   

The courses consist of taught sessions, practical and investigative activities, seminars, presentations, school visits and engagement with Science specialists in industry and other organisations.   Assessment will be by examination, laboratory work and coursework.

Chemistry and Physics Entry Criteria 

• A degree (normally a minimum 2:2, with no science based content) and one science A Level or equivalent and Mathematics and English Language GCSE grade C or higher or equivalent.   N.B. We will not accept Sports Science or Psychology as science A Levels for entry in September 2013. However, this will be kept under review and we would encourage you to contact the University for further guidance.  

• A science based degree (normally a minimum 2:2) but not based on National Curriculum subjects and, one or more science A Levels or equivalent, as well as English Language or Mathematics GCSE or equivalent.  

• A science degree in one of the main National Curriculum subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science/Geology) but  no second science at least to A Level or equivalent (those considering training to be a science teacher who have a second science at least to A Level or equivalent would be eligible for consideration for the University’s One Year PGCE Course). 

This full-time course is designed to develop subject knowledge in Computer Science to enable you to progress to an Initial Teacher Education Programme (PGCE /QTS with a University or SCITT, or a School Direct place with a School and a University/SCITT). Changes to the National Curriculum mean that Computer Science, as opposed to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is now identified as one of the subjects to be offered. This programme therefore addressed subject need for those with strong ICT and/or other subject profiles who wish to be able to work at Secondary level.  The course gives you the opportunity to develop and review your subject knowledge within an educational context (school placement). 

The training programme is innovative and is delivered as a partnership between specialist subject Education Tutors in the School or Public Policy and Professional Practice and academic computer scientists in the School of Computing and Mathematics, and by experienced practitioners in partnership schools. The courses consist of taught sessions, practical and investigative activities, seminars, presentations, school visits and engagement with specialists in industry and other organisations. Assessment will be by examination, project work and coursework.

The full-time course is designed to develop subject knowledge in Mathematics to enable you to broaden and deepen your academic knowledge so that you can progress to an Initial Teacher Education Programme (PGCE /QTS with a University or SCITT, or a School Direct place with a School and a University/SCITT). The course at Keele University, in addition to focusing on Mathematics knowledge within University sessions, also provides opportunities for you to develop and review your subject knowledge within a range of contexts. These will include a professional placement in a secondary school.  

The course will consist of taught sessions, practical and investigative activities, seminars, presentations, school visits and placements. Assessment will be by examination, presentation and coursework. Teaching is shared between the teacher educators in the University’s School of Public Policy and Professional Practice and academic mathematicians in the School of Computing and Mathematics.  

Mathematics Entry Criteria:

The SKE Course in Mathematics is designed to meet individual needs and we therefore consider a range of profiles: